April 2, 2004

Tigers win two at home

Hosting a pair of games against second place Highland Community College Friday at City Ballpark, the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division leading Cowley County Community College baseball team won a pair of games in its final at bat to improve to 11-3 in the conference.

In the first game, hard throwing sophomore Josh Wahpepah (3-1) tossed a one-hit shutout as Cowley won 1-0.

Highland starting pitcher Trevor O'Shaughnessy matched zeroes with Wahpepah until the bottom of the sixth inning. After striking out Daryl Graham to start the inning, O'shaughnessy surrendered back-to-back singles to Deik Scram and Kellen Linville to put runners at first and second. Clay Blevins, who entered the game batting .310 on the season, followed with a double to left centerfield that scored Scram with the games only run.

Wahpepah finished off the win by retiring the side in order for the fifth time in the game. Wahpepah struck out eight and walked just two in picking up his third win of the season.

"I felt real good out there today, I was real confident in my stuff," Wahpepah said. "I just hope to throw my best every time I take the mound and try to give us a chance to win."

In the second game, Cowley jumped on top 1-0 in the first inning when second baseman Jake Sunderman dropped Colby Overstreet's two-out popup in the infield, allowing Blevins to score from second base.  

Highland tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning when John Bummett hit a run scoring single off freshman pitcher Trace Larman. Larman pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed four hits and one run. He also struck out three and walked three.

Cowley went back on top 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when a two-out throwing error by Highland shortstop Casey Rahmeier allowed Chase Ohme to score from third. Ohme reached base on a double to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a ground ball to second hit by Dwayne White.

It looked as if the one-run lead may hold up as Tiger reliever Matt VanDeelen pitched 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief before giving up an RBI single to Steve Larson with one out in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 2-2 and send the game to extra innings.

Travis Kliewer, who came in in relief of VanDeelen and recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning, then allowed a solo home run to pinch hitter Travis Ahrens to lead off the eighth inning.

Trailing 3-2 and down to its final out, Cowley got its third unearned run of the game when Alex Kotera, who had just entered the game at shortstop, fielded a ground ball by Ohme and threw wild over the first baseman's head, allowing Brandon Harrigan to score and tie the game at 3-3. Harrigan had kept the inning alive by delivering a pinch hit single with two outs.

With two outs and nobody on base in the top of the ninth, Brummett hit a fly ball that was misplayed and dropped between centerfielder Matt Webb and right fielder Chase Ohme. Brummett took second on the play.

Ryan Sharp followed with a single to centerfield and Brummett rounded third and headed for home, but was gunned down at home plate on a strong throw from Webb.

Webb followed up the strong throw to home by leading off the bottom of the ninth with a single. Graham then bunted Webb to second, and after an intentional walk to Scram and a walk of Chad Ogden the bases were loaded.

With Blevins at the plate, Highland reliever Kevin Barnes threw a wild pitch that scored Webb from third with the game-winning run.

The thrilling sweep of the doubleheader improves Cowley's record to 19-9 overall and 11-3 in the Jayhawk East. The losses drop Highland's record to 16-11overall and 6-6 in the East.

Cowley will be back in action Saturday when they host a doubleheader against Fort Scott Community College beginning at 2 p.m.