The Barton Community College baseball team powered for nine runs in the bottom of the sixth Thursday afternoon earning an 18-8 run-rule sweep over Labette Community College in the opening round of the Plains District Region VI Tournament.
Advancing to the Region's final eight, the Cougars improve to 41-16 overall while the Cardinals have their season conclude at 17-32 overall. Seeded second, Barton will play the 2:00 p.m. Tuesday game at Kansas State University's Tointon Family Stadium against 10th seeded Hutchinson Community College after the Blue Dragons completed a two game sweep over seventh seeded Fort Scott Community College.
Receiving balanced production throughout the lineup highlighted by all nine Cougars recording a hit and RBI, Dryden Howse steered the Barton bats with a 3-for-5 day at the plate driving in a team high four RBIs while Ricardo Sanchez, Henry Hayman, Connor Allen, Jace Stewart and Joel Nieves knocking in a pair each.
Ian Lanik tossed his way to his fifth victory of the season working 4.1-innings out of the bullpen allowing two earned runs, scattering eighth hits, walking two and striking out three improving his record to 5-2 on the year.
Starter Owen Reynolds lasted just 1.2-innings surrendering five hits, five runs and issuing a pair of walks earning a no-decision. Tegan Cain operated a perfect inning of work recording a pair of strikeouts.