Reeder's big day lifts Tigers to conference-opening wins

After spending the fall semester as a member of the Wichita State University baseball team, Janson Reeder decided to return to the Cowley College baseball squad where he was named a JUCO All-American as a freshman. The decision has paid off for Reeder and the No. 11-ranked Tigers as the leftfielder went 7-for-7 with two home runs, seven runs scored and five runs batted in as Cowley swept a doubleheader against Labette Community College Sunday in Arkansas City. The Tigers won the first game by a score of 10-6 before taking game two 11-3.

Cowley, winners of three games in a row, is now 11-4 overall and 2-0 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Labette falls to 6-7 overall and 0-2 in conference play.

"This was a good way to start conference play," Cowley head coach Darren Burroughs said.

Game one saw the Tigers rally from an early 5-1 deficit. After supplying Cowley's first run with a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning, Janson Reeder's two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning began Cowley's rally. Reeder would add a two-run, go-ahead double in a three-run fourth inning for the Tigers as he finished 3-for-3 with two home runs and five runs batted in.

Grant Adler started on the mound for Cowley and allowed four runs in two innings, despite striking out five. Chance Condit (2-0) followed with 2 1/3 innings of relief in which he allowed three hits and one run, while striking out three.

Sophomore Miguel Fulgencio would follow Condit on the mound and allowed one, unearned run in 2 2/3 innings of relief to close out the victory. The trio of Tiger pitchers combined to strike out 11 batters while walking only one.

"Condit and Miggy really solidified the game for us on the mound and allowed us a chance to come back," Burroughs said.

In game two, freshman Jack Hill hit a three-run homer in a five-run first inning for the Tigers and Cowley cruised to the 11-3 win. Freshman catcher Logan Vaughan and Reeder each went 4-for-4 at the plate. Vaughan drove in five, while Reeder doubled twice and scored four runs.

"Logan keeps showing that he is a clutch player," Burroughs said. "We moved him up in the lineup and he made us look smart."

After his 7-for-7 showing at the plate, Reeder is now batting .407 with 15 runs batted in.

"Janson is a tremendously hard worker. He made a few adjustments at the plate and they seemed to pay big dividends," Burroughs said.

Aaron Weber and Logan Kimbro struck out seven batters apiece. Weber (4-0) went the first five innings to earn the win, while Kimbro allowed only two hits over four scoreless innings.

Tiger pitchers combined to strike out 25 batters and walk just two in the doubleheader.

"Aaron and Logan had really good success on the mound," Burroughs said. "When it is windy like it was, you just don't want to walk people."

Cowley chased Cardinal starting pitcher Jaxon James in the second inning as he was tagged for seven runs in 1 1/3 innings.

The teams will play another doubleheader Monday in Arkansas City beginning at 1 p.m.

"We are still making mistakes that we need to correct, so we will attempt to keep improving," Burroughs said.

Game one                    R H E

Labette 1 2 2 0 0 0 1 – 6 9 1

Cowley 1 0 2 3 1 3 x – 10 12 3

Game two                          R H E

Cowley 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 3 6 0

Labette 5 2 0 0 0 2 0 2 x – 11 12 2