The Coffeyville baseball team ended the March portion of its season with a sweep of Neosho County on Thursday.
Game 1 saw Coffeyville fall behind early after a 3-run homerun from the Panthers' Drew Miller. Neosho would only continue to add to the lead, eventually increasing said lead to 7-1 after the fourth. However, Coffeyville would chip into the lead, picking up runs here and there to get back to within two runs at 7-5. A costly error would let Neosho add two more runs before the bottom of the seventh, but things would turn around from there for the Ravens. The Panthers feel apart defensively, picking up 5 errors across two innings. These errors would allow Coffeyville to get back within two once again. Coffeyville needed a hero, and with two on, Edsael Torres would step up to take that mantle with a 2RBI double off the right field fence to tie the game. However, the Red Ravens were not content with extra innings. The next batter, Jackson Wilcox, would put a fastball over the head of the Neosho third-baseman to bring Torres home and win the game at 10-9.
Game 2 was much less intense, with the Coffeyville pitchers once again picking up steam. Starting pitcher Frank Peterson provided quality innings, allowing only 1 run and 3 hits. Although reliever Tayler Mahoney would run into a spot of trouble, Alex Galvez would step in to inherit the bases-loaded, nobody-out jam. Galvez would pick up a fielder's choice and two strikeouts to get Coffeyville out of the inning scot-free. With the future of the 2020 season in doubt, head coach Jake Martin would put in his planned Saturday starter Chat Hayes in a special relief appearance for the final two innings to hold onto the 5-1 lead. Hayes would perform up to par as well, striking out 5 to secure the 5-1 victory.
Coffeyville improves to 8-11 on the season and 4-2 in the Jayhawk Conference. Because of concerns over the spread of COVID-19, this will be the last baseball game held until at least April 1st. We will continue to give updates on the situation as we get them.
