BJ’s Begin Second Half with Sweep at Dodge City

The Liberal Bee Jays began their second half schedule in fine fashion Sunday night.  The BJ’s swept the Dodge City A’s 4-0 and 2-0 in 10 innings at Cavalier Field in Dodge City.  The A’s led the Jayhawk League in hitting the first half but were held scoreless in 17 innings Sunday.

In game one, Tyler Giovanoni improved to 3-0 with 6 and 2/3 scoreless innings.  JB Olson faced one hitter for the save.  Liberal scored in the fifth when Brandon Urquizo lined a two out base hit down the left field line to scored Blake Brewster.  Cale O’Donnell’s towering home run to left in the sixth made it 3-0 Liberal.  Kyle Knauth double off the base of the wall in right and would score on an Owen Taylor double down the third baseline.  Knauth was 2-2 with a walk.

In game two Jake Harrison pitched six shutout innings for the BJ’s before Lee Busto went one inning, Zach Hansen went two, and JB Olson pitched the 10th for his fourth save.  The BJ’s won despite hitting into five double plays and leaving 11 on base.  Dodge City hit into a pair of double plays, left 11 on base, and twice had a runner on third with no outs but didn’t score.  The A’s loaded the bases with no outs in the third but Harrison wiggled out of the jam.  Dodge threatend to win the game in the bottom of the seventh with runners at the corners and no outs but second baseman Donny Ortiz turned a one hopper to second into a double play while holding the runner on third.  The A’s loaded the bases with one out in the ninth but a diving stop by Brady Cox on a smash down the third baseline turned into a 5-3 double play as Cox tagged third and fired to first.  The Bee Jays broke through in the 10th.  With two outs, Cox ripped a two RBI single to right to score Kamachi and O’Donnell who both singled.  Kamachi finished 3-5 and Ortiz was 3-4 with two stolen bases.

Liberal is 2-0 in the second half and 11-14 overall.  Dodge City is 0-2 and going 13-7 the first half.  The same two teams meet at Brent Gould Field for the fourth of July game Monday night at 7 with the Dugout Show at 6:45 on 1270 and kscbnews.net.  Pizza Hut and the Community Bank are the buyout sponsors.  Fireworks will follow the game.  Also First Southern Baptist Church will host a family picnic from 2-6.