Baseball March 24, 2016

NOTES: DC3 baseball hosts first-place Barton in key KJCCC series

DC3's Jay Rawlins

DODGE CITY, Kan. -- The Dodge City Community College baseball team has a chance to make up some ground in the KJCCC as the Conquistadors host first-place Barton 1 p.m. Friday in the first of a four-game series that concludes Saturday at Cavalier Field.

DC3 BREAKDOWN (19-8, 7-5)

AVG: .320 (10th in KJCCC) | OBP: .424 (7th) | SB: 15 (18th) | ERA: 5.65 (10th) | OPP AVG: .281 (6th)
Individual Stats

- DC3 is coming off a doubleheader split with Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa on Wednesday, winning the first game 11-5 while allowing a season high in runs in a 23-9 loss in game two.

- In KJCCC play, the Conqs are coming off back-to-back four-game series wins over Butler (3-1) and Cloud County (3-1). In each series DC3 had a chance to sweep heading into game four, only to drop the finale.

- Jason Nichols hit a pair of home runs in the series against Tonkawa and is now batting a team-best .397. He's tied for the team lead with four home runs (with Colton Onstott - who also homered Wednesday) and is second to Onstott with 25 RBI. He is also riding a 12-game hitting streak.

- Max Laney has reached base in 13 straight games for the Conqs and in 26 of DC3's 27 games this season. He is 10th in the KJCCC in on-base percentage at .523 thanks to being fifth in the conference in walks (23) and fourth in hit by pitches (eight).

- Jay Rawlins continues to pace the DC3 rotation as the sophomore left-hander is 4-1 with a 2.32 ERA (seventh in the KJCCC). His three complete games leads the conference.

- New Mexico State-signee Matthew Perea has turned it on in his last two starts, going 12 innings and giving up one earned run on nine hits with 14 strikeouts and three walks.

BARTON BREAKDOWN (18-7, 8-0)

AVG: .316 (12th) | OBP: .406 (12th) | SB: 75 (1st) | ERA: 4.66 (4th) | OPP AVG: .288 (8th)
Individual Stats

- Barton is off to a flawless start to KJCCC play after sweeping doubleheaders from Cloud County (winning by a combined score of 47-12) and Butler (won a pair of one-run games while winning the other two by four runs or more).

- Since starting the season 2-5, Barton has gone 16-2 with its only losses coming to North Iowa Area Community College on March 17 (12-6 and 8-5).

- The Cougars have been the busiest on the base paths in the KJCCC as they lead the conference with 75 stolen bases. Six players have five or more steals, including two in double figures - Cole Henley (17 - first in the KJCCC) and Michael Sinks (13 - third). Barton is also second in the KJCCC in being caught stealing at 20.

- Sinks has been the Cougars' top threat at the plate with a team-best .370 average, 28 RBI and 32 runs to go along with his 13 stolen bases.

- Barton has been solid on the mound as the Cougars are fourth in the conference in ERA (4.66) and tied for seventh in hits allowed (202). Jackson Rose (3-1, 5.53 ERA), Cody Brewer (1-1, 6.00 ERA), Garrett Rogers (1-2, 3.86 ERA) and Austin Taylor (2-0, 4.91 ERA) lead the team in starts.

- Barton's top arm has come out of the bullpen in right-hander Mason Hiser. The freshman in nine games is 3-2 with two saves, a 1.23 ERA and 21 strikeouts in 22 innings (nine games, no starts).

Players Mentioned

#4 Matthew Perea: LHP; 6' 2"; Sophomore; L/L

#6 Jason Nichols: OF/INF; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

#7 Max Laney: INF; 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R

#10 Colton Onstott: C; 6' 0"; Freshman; L/R

#20 Jay Rawlins: LHP; 6' 1"; Sophomore; L/L

Players Mentioned

#4 Matthew Perea
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; L/L
: LHP

#6 Jason Nichols
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: OF/INF

#7 Max Laney
: 6' 0"; Sophomore; R/R
: INF

#10 Colton Onstott
: 6' 0"; Freshman; L/R
: C

#20 Jay Rawlins
: 6' 1"; Sophomore; L/L
: LHP