March 8, 2004

Cowley pitchers combine on no-hitter, go 3-0 over weekend

Josh Wahpepah and Trace Larman teamed up to no-hit Barton County Community College Sunday at City Ball Park as the Cowley County Community College baseball team went on to sweep a doubleheader against the Cougars.

In the opener, Wahpepah (2-0) tossed four innings of no-hit ball to start the game, and Larman came on to throw three hitless innings of relief to complete the no-hitter and 2-1 win of game one.

Cowley actually trailed the opener 1-0 after three innings of play. The Cougars' lone run came in the first inning as Barton County manufactured a run, thanks to a couple of hit batsmen. Wahpepah avoided any further damage by striking out the side in the inning.

Wahpepah went on to strike out seven batters in his four innings on the mound, and Cowley got a two-run double by Matt Webb in the bottom of the fourth to go on top 2-1.

That was all the run support Larman needed as he entered the game in the top of the fifth inning and picked up where Wahpepah left off. Larman struck out five in his three innings of work and did not allow a baserunner in picking up his first save of the season.

Ryan Phillips took the loss for Barton County as he allowed two runs in four innings.

In the second game, Cowley pitchers Dustin Richardson and Landon West combined to hold the Cougars to three hits and no runs in a 3-0 win.

It looked as if Cowley might no-hit Barton again in the second game as Richardson did not allow a hit in his four innings on the mound. Richardson (1-1) struck out six and walked two in picking up his first win of the season.

West came on to pitch in the top of the fifth and retired the first batter he faced before surrendering a single to Steve Edlefsen. The hit was the Cougars' first in 11 1/3 innings.

Cowley scratched a run across the plate in the first inning, and added two more runs in the third. Colby Overstreet had a run-scoring triple in the third, and came around to score on a ground ball by Brandon Harrigan.

West allowed three hits and no runs over three innings of relief. He also struck out three and walked none in recording his first save of the season.

Barton's Derek McDaid was charged with the loss in the nightcap as he allowed three runs in five innings. The Cougars are now 4-4 on the season.

On Saturday, Tiger pitchers had another solid day on the mound in a 6-3 win at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid. Trey Randa started for Cowley and allowed just one hit and no runs in three innings. He left with a 1-0 lead.

Travis Kliewer relieved Randa on the mound and allowed three runs, two earned, in his 2 2/3 innings of work and left with NOC on top 3-1.

Cowley got a solo home run from Deik Scram to cut NOC's lead to 3-2 in the top of the seventh, and Adam Henry (1-0) kept the Mavericks scoreless in the seventh and eighth to keep the Tigers within one run heading to the top of the ninth.

Scram led off the ninth with his second home run of the game, and team-leading fourth of the season, and Cowley struck for four runs in the ninth to win 6-3.

Ronnie Phillips pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his second save.

Cowley head coach Dave Burroughs was happy with the way his pitchers threw the ball in the three wins.

"Our pitchers have really made a lot of progress," Burroughs said. "They pitched outstanding all weekend."

The victories improve the Tigers' record to 7-4 on the season. Cowley will be back in action Friday when it plays a single nine-inning game at Northeast Texas State at 7 p.m. in Mt. Pleasant.