Tournament Bracket

DODGE CITY, Kan. -- Following a 2-1 series win over Coffeyville Community College in the opening round of the NJCAA Region VI Central District Baseball Championships, the Dodge City Community College turns their attention towards their next opponent in No. 14 nationally-ranked Johnson County Community College. 

THE GAME: 

 DC3 will take on the Cavaliers in the nightcap of the opening day of games from Lawrence-Dumont Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. Fans wanting to watch the game will be able to do so live on the Conquistador Sports Network on YouTube. Live Video

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

- Both teams will play on Saturday regardless of the outcome of Friday night's game. The winner of Dodge City and Johnson County will get the winner of No. 3 Hutchinson Community College and Cowley (RV) at 7 p.m. Saturday night while the two losers of the first-round games will square off in an elimination game at 1 p.m.

DODGE CITY CONQUISTADORS (38-17-1)

AVG: .313 (10th in KJCCC) | OBP: .401 (10th) | HR: 62 (5th) | SB: 22 (19th) | ERA: 5.50 (7th) | Field Pct. .955 (7th)

Individual Stats

- The Conqs made sure that history wouldn't repeat itself for the second straight-year by putting up 13 runs in the bottom of the sixth of a series-deciding game three against Coffeyville en route to a 19-3 beating of the Red Ravens to move on to Wichita. The last time DC3 played in the eight-team double-elimination portion of the Region VI Tournament, the Conquistadors went on to win the entire tournament and advance to the JUCO World Series for only the second time in program history. 

- Friday's meeting will mark only the seventh-time in each school's history that the two teams have met on the baseball diamond. Johnson County leads the all-time series 4-2 with the last meeting taking place in 2007 (JCCC won 7-1)

- DC3 has had to mix together pitching and offense throughout the year while finding ways to win games. Injuries in the offseason left the Conquistadors with questions early in the season before key freshman Cade Engle (.393 avg), Brayden Cook (.380 avg), and Dauson Tate (.353 avg) stepped into key contributory roles. 

- Sophomore left handed pitcher Cole Brandon has led Dodge City pitchers this season by going deep into games and throwing a team-high 65.1 innings in 12 appearances this year. The Fort Collins, CO native is striking out 9.09 batters per nine innings and has struck out 66 batters while issuing just 18 walks.

- Talon Schaller has carried the DC3 offense for most of the year, setting a single-season school record for home runs in a season (17) and is currently two RBI shy of tying the single-season school record of 77 set by Cody Voelker in 2012. On the year, Schaller is hitting .352 at the dish with a .714 slugging percentage. 

Johnson County Cavaliers (44-14)

AVG: .331 (4th) | OBP: .418 (7th) | HR: 59 (7th) | SB: 77 (8th) | ERA: 3.53 (1st) | Field Pct. .959 (4th)

Individual Stats

- Johnson County comes into Friday night's matchup after winning their opening round series against Butler two games to one (W, 5-1, L, 4-3, W, 4-2). 

- The Cavaliers have stumbled down the stretch, going just 4-5 in the final nine games of the season. Prior to their late season woes, JCCC had won 18 straight games and 22 of their past 23 games dating back to March 21st. 

- Pitching has been the key all year for the Cavaliers who sport the best ERA in the conference at 3.53. Reigning KJCCC Pitcher of the week Brendan Stanek comes into the tournament with a conference-best 1.11 earned run average in 72.2 innings pitched, good for fourth-best ERA nationally. 

- JCCC holds their own at the plate to compliment their pitching led by Nick McMurray who is hitting .377 with 13 doubles and 30 runs batted in. Utility player Matt Warkentin provides the pop in the Cavalier lineup, hitting .336 with 15 home runs and 65 RBI in 58 games played this season.