Cox pitches the Tigers into region title game

Needing to defeat second-seeded Johnson County twice on Sunday afternoon at the Region VI Championship played at Wichita State University's Eck Stadium, the fourth-seeded Cowley College Tigers got a stellar pitching performance from sophomore Chance Cox as they scored six runs in the top of the ninth inning and knocked off the Cavaliers 7-2.

The winner of the second game between the teams advances to play May 27-June 2 at the JUCO World Series in Grand Junction, CO.

Cox, pitching on three days' rest, did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and improved his record to 8-1 by allowing only two hits and two runs in eight-plus innings of work.

After being shut out in its previous three meetings with Johnson County, the Tigers attempted to be aggressive in this one as they had three base runners thrown out, either trying to steal second base or score from third in the first three innings.

Cowley finally broke through after 30 scoreless innings against the Cavaliers when Ty Hammack and Cooper Schwindt led off the top of the fourth inning with back-to-back singles, advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Keaton Campbell, and Hammack came in to score on a ground out to third base by Logan Vaughan.

The Cavaliers would put runners at second and third with only one out in the bottom of the fourth before Cox retired the next two batters to strand a pair of baserunners and keep the Tigers in front 1-0.

Cowley had a chance to add to its lead in the fifth inning, but Hammack lined out to short to strand runners at the corners.

Johnson County would finally break through on Cox as they scratched across a run in the bottom of the fifth inning on one hit, one walk, and a sacrifice fly by shortstop Dylan Hufft.

Ty Blecha started on the mound for Johnson County and once again faced runners on base as the Tigers loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Eaden Holt, playing in place of injured second baseman Jaydyn McNealy, grounded out sharply to second base to leave the bases loaded.

Caleb Anderson entered in relief of Blecha in the top of the seventh and kept the game tied at 1-1 heading into the ninth inning. However, Luke Shannahan singled off Anderson leading off the ninth, and Holt reached first base safely on a bunt. A wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third with nobody out.

Anderson was then relieved by left-hander Michael Infranca to face sophomore Haden O'Toole, who drew a walk to load the bases. Infranca then walked Trayson Miller to score Shannahan with the go-ahead run from third. Hammack's sacrifice fly to centerfield scored Holt with the second run of the inning as Cowley went in front 3-1. The Tigers were not done there as Cooper Schwindt singled home O'Toole to make the score 4-1, and two batters later, Miller scored on a wild pitch.

With Christian Johnson now pitching for Johnson County, Logan Vaughan singled home two more to cap the six-run ninth.

After a walk and a hit batsman in the bottom of the ninth, sophomore Jack Hill relieved Cox on the mound and allowed one of the inherited runners to score before finishing off the victory.

Cowley (39-21) was led at the plate by Schwindt going 3-for-5 with a run scored and a run batted in. Johnson County falls to 54-8.

Score by inning:                 R H E

Cowley  0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 6 – 7 7 0

Johnson 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 – 2 2 1