Baseball
Cowboys Fall to Eastern in Region 2 Title Game
JENKS – Connors State could not overcome an early 8-1 deficit against Eastern State in the championship game of the NJCAA Region 2 Baseball Tournament Sunday at Hinch Field and the Cowboys’ season came to an end falling to the Mountaineers 12-8.
Connors advanced to the title game by defeating Seminole State 11-4 in an elimination game. The Cowboys end the year 35-24 while Eastern advances to the NJCAA South Central District tournament next week in Missouri with a 36-19 record.
“We let the first two innings get away from us and just couldn’t overcome them’: said Connors State head coach Perry Keith. “They really didn’t hit anything, we just had a lot of walks and hit batsman.”
The Cowboys used four pitchers, starter Jordan Morales, relievers Arnaldo Hernandez, Chad Backward and Bernard Sawyer against the Mountaineers. The four combined for six walks and six hit batters, while scattering 10 base hits.
“Jordan wasn’t really wild, he was just out of the zone just enough, said Keith. “If we could just have gotten ahead of them. We got close.
“But what a great testament for these kids. We could have mailed it in when we were down 8-1. But we kept chipping away. This guys showed how big a heart they have. I am so proud of them. They’ve been through so much as a group and hung in there. They gave themselves a chance.”
In the championship game against Eastern State, Connors scored in the top of the first without a base hit. Angel Flores opened the game with a walk and following a Jake Barton sacrifice, Flores moved to third on a wild pitch. Flores then scored on an infield error on a Victor Claudio ground ball for a 1-0 Cowboys lead.
Eastern responded with a 4-run first, on two base hits and an error, against Morales for a 4-1 Mountaineers lead.
Mountaineers made it an 8-1 contest with four runs in the second, as Connors used two relief pitchers in the inning Hernandez, who took over for Morales followed by Backward for Hernandez.
Cowboys fought back to make it 8-4 on a pair of home runs. Barton connected on a solo blast over the left field wall. Diedrick then walked and came home on Chris Tavares two-run blast to make it 8-4.
Connors made it an 8-6 game in the fourth with two runs on two base hits, RBI single by Diedrick that scored Flores and Barton scored on an Eastern error.
Eastern added two runs in the last of the fifth on a 2-run RBI base hit by Codey McElroy, giving the Mountaineers a 10-6 lead.
Cowboys continued to chip away at Eastern’s lead scoring in the sixth slicing the Mountaineers lead to 10-7. Flores scored on a fly ball to left field by Tavares that was dropped which allow Flores to score.
The score got closer in the top of the seventh when CSC’s Braden Cook hit a solo home run over the right field wall making it a 10-8 contest which was as close the Cowboys managed. Eastern added two more runs in their half of the seventh.
Against Seminole State the Cowboys rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the opener erupting for five runs in the fourth inning and four more in the fifth for an 11-4 advantage. It was a lead that Seminole could not overcome as Kylar Trumbla in relief of Caleb Banks got the win.
Trumbla went 6 innings, scattering five hits and walking just 2, while striking out four in getting the win.
Cowboys had 7 base hits with Cook leading the attack with a 3-for-5 performance, including a RBI and three runs scored. Diedrick continued his home run assault with a 2-run blast over the right field wall in the fifth inning.
Seminole entered the tournament ranked No. 7 in the NJCAA and the No. 2 seed. The Trojans close the year 41-15.
Four Cowboys were named to the All-Tournament team, Diedrick, Cook, Flores and Chris Romano.
Cowboys Rip Rose; Play for Region 2 Title
JENKS – Connors State behind the pitching of Chris Romano and the power hitting of Phil Diedrick and Angel Flores, overwhelmed Rose State 10-3 at Hinch Field Saturday to advance to the championship game of the NJCAA Region 2 Baseball Tournament.
Connors (35-23) will play the winner between Seminole State and Eastern State, at 1 p.m. Sunday. The Trojans and Mountaineers played the late game Saturday.
“We got to Sunday and that’s what counts,” said a jubilant Connors State head coach Perry Keith.
Romano threw his first complete 9-innning game of the year in recording the win. Romano is 3-3 on the season. The sophomore right hander from Markham Ontario, Canada, scattered 7 hits, and struck out nine, while walking two and hitting two batters.
“Romano was just awesome,” said Keith. “He got a little tired in the middle, but found his way back and got Rose to hit balls right at our guys in the middle innings. He was just great. We were able to hit them in the mouth at the git-go and he came out and didn’t let them peck away.”
Diedrick went 2-for-4 at the plate with 3 runs-batted-in that included a 3-run homer in the first inning. He also scored three times. Flores was a 3-for-4 at the plate, including a home run with an RBI and scored twice, with Eli Roundtree going 2-for-4 and two runs scored.
“Phil (Diedrick) has gotten better and better,” said Keith. “It’s all about strike zone with him and he really has lifted us. Angel makes us go and we have started to put it all together. These guys believe in themselves and we’ve got to Sunday and that’s all you can do.”
The Cowboys jumped on Rose starting pitcher Chalmer Wyatt, who last only 1/3 of an inning, giving up 5 Connors runs on four base hits in the first inning.
The big blow in the inning was a 3-run blast by Diedrick over the over the right field wall. Diedrick’s homer, his 7th of the season, plated Flores who reached on a single to right field. Jake Barton’s fly ball to right field was misplayed and was dropped by the Raiders’ Brandon Weddie.
Keith Korey drew a walk, and Eli Roundtree singled to right field and both came home on Braden Cook’s double off the centerfield wall, giving the Cowboys a 5-0 lead.
Connors increased its lead to 6-0 in the top of the second when Diedrick, who collected his second base hit, scored on Victor Claudio’s double to the left field fence.
Rose put its first run on the scoreboard in their half of the second, taking advantage of two Cowboys’ throwing errors and a sacrifice fly, cutting CSC’s lead to 6-1.
Cowboys’ home run barrage continued in the fourth inning as Flores connected for his first homer of the season, a solo shot over the center field wall, giving Connors a 7-1 advantage.
Connors kept its offensive attack going in the fifth, with two more base hits to put a run across the plate. Roundtree, who singled to right field, scored on Flores’ third base hit of the game, a single to left field, giving the Cowboys a comfortable 8-1 lead.
Cowboys made it a 10-1 game in the sixth with two more runs. Tavares sent home Barton with a double to right field and Keith’s sacrifice fly plated Diedrick. Barton had reached on a walk and Diedrick on a fielder’s choice.
Cowboys Stay Alive in Region 2 Play; Oust NEO
JENKS – Connors State rallied from a 2-0 deficit by pounding out 15 base hits, including three home runs to rout top-seed Northeastern A&M 10-2 and advance in the NJCAA Region 2 Baseball Tournament Friday at Hinch Field.
Cowboys will take a 34-23 record into Saturday’s elimination game at 3:30 p.m. against the loser of Seminole State and Eastern State. A Cowboy win in Saturday’s game would mean a second game at 7 p.m. Northeastern A&M closes the season 35-14.
It took the Cowboys five innings before it warmed up it bats, scoring three runs in the fifth, one in the eighth and six in the ninth frame, which included two home runs.
Phil Diedrick led the Cowboys hitting attack with a 3-for-3 performance, which included a two-run homer in the ninth inning. Chris Tavares connected on a solo blast in the ninth and Braden Cook hit a solo homer in the eighth.
Kelvin Rivas got the win on the mound going seven innings, scattering six hits, walking seven. Rivas is now 7-1 for the season. Caleb Banks pitched the final two innings facing six NEO batters, and not giving up a hit.
NEO took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Rivas was touched for two base hits and walked home the Norsemen’s first run after the Norsemen loaded the bases on a base hit, fielder’s choice and a base hit. The second NEO run came on an RBI single by Samuel Dominque.
Connors’ Diedrick saved a run when after fly ball put out right field, threw a perfect strike to Tavares to nail Calvin Ellis at the plate to complete a double play.
Connors struck for three runs in the fifth inning on just one base hit, two fielder’s choices, an error and a wild pitch.
Ryan Clarke opened the fifth by reaching on an error, followed by an Angel Flores single to left field. Jake Barton then reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Diedrick singled to right field scoring Clarke for the Cowboys’ first run. Barton then tied the game at 2-2 when he scored on a wild pitch.
Tavares then reached on a fielder’s choice and Victor Claudio drove home Diedrick with a fly ball to center field, giving Connors a 3-2 lead.
Cook opened the eighth inning with a towering home run over the left field wall, giving Connors State a 4-2 lead. It was Cook’s 4th home run of the season.
Connors assault continued in the 9th when Diedrick blasted a two-run homer over the centerfield wall at the 370-foot mark, giving the Cowboys a 6-2 lead. Diedrick’s blast, his 6th of the season, plated Barton, who had reached on a walk.
NEO replaced Travis Remillard, who took over for Norse starter Dany Coulombe in the sixth, was greeted on the first pitch by Tavares’ solo blast over the left field fence for a 7-2 Cowboys lead. It was Tavares’ 7th homer of the year.
Claudio followed with a double and moved to third on Korey Keith’s infield base hit that sent Kyle Willard to the showers for NEO and he was replaced by Ricardo Rivera. Rivera was greeted by an RBI single by Cook up the middle that scored Claudio for an 8-2 CSC lead.
Connors made it 10-2 when Flores doubled to left center field scoring Keith and Cook.
Cowboys Fall to Seminole in Region 2 Tournament
TULSA --- Seminole State pounded out 11 base hits and took advantage of 11 walks, and three hits batsman en route to a 14-6 win over Connors State in the opening round of the NJCAA Region 2 Baseball Tournament at Hinch Field Thursday.
The loss drops the Cowboys (33-23) into the loser’s bracket at noon against the loser of Northeastern A&M (35-12) and Arkansas Baptist (23-33) which was played late Thursday night.
Cowboys led only once in the game and that was in the top of the first 1-0 when Jake Barton scored on a base hit by Victor Claudio to center field.
The NJCAA No. 5-ranked Trojans took the lead in the last of the first with two runs against Cowboys’ starter Jordan Morales, who took the loss. Morales was the first of four Connors pitchers in the game.
The Cowboys tied the game at 2-2 in the third when Phil Diedrick reached on a shot down the right field line and scored when Korey Keith hit into a double play that allowed Diedrick to score.
Seminole added two more runs in their half of the third for a 4-2 advantage before Connors cut the Trojans lead to one, 4-3 in the top of the fourth when Barton, came home on a RBI single by Chris Tavares to left field.
The Trojans added a run in their half of the fourth for a 5-3 lead. Connors scored a run in the fourth on an Angel Flores base hit to left field that plated Keith, who had reached base on a strike out, but the catcher, mishandle the pitch allowing him to reach first base.
That was the closet the Cowboys would get to Seminole as they struck for five runs in the last of the fifth for a 10-4 advantage.
In the sixth Tavares connected on a solo home run over the leftfield wall making it a 10-5 game. Seminole added three runs in the seventh to make it 13-5 and another in the 8th inning for a 14-5 lead.
Connors final run came in the ninth when Ryan Clarke, who reached on a walk, scored on Diedrick’s base hit to right field.
Claudio and Travers led the Connors hitting attack with three hits each
Cowboys Open Region 2 Tournament Play Thursday
Connors State opens play in the Region 2 Baseball Tournament on Thursday at Jenks High School’s Hinch Field.
The Cowboys (33-22) will battle Seminole State (39-13) at 3:30 p.m. Other opening round games in the double elimination tournament has Northeastern A&M (35-12) playing Arkansas Baptist (23-33) at 7 p.m. and Rose State (29-22) meeting Eastern State (32-19) at noon.
A Cowboys win over Seminole would advance CSC into Friday’s winner’s bracket game at 3:30 against the winner of Rose State and Eastern. A loss and the Cowboys fall into loser’s bracket match at noon Friday against the NEO and Arkansas Baptist loser.
The semifinals begin at noon Saturday and championship games is Sunday at 1 p.m. A second game if necessary will be played at 4 p.m.
Seven Cowboys Receive Region 2 Honors
Four Connors State Cowboys were named to the Region 2 All-Region second team baseball squad and three were named honorable mention.
Named to the second team were outfielder Angel Flores, pitcher Kelvin Rivas, catcher Chris Tavares and first baseman Korey Keith. Tavares and Keith were named to the Gold Glove team.
Honorable mention selections were outfielders Phil Diedrick, Ryan Clarke and pitcher Jordan Morales.
Cowboys Sweep Arkansas Baptist to Close Regular Season
Connors State Cowboys closed out the regular season on a successful note sweeping a doubleheader from Arkansas Baptist 6-2 and 11-2 at Biff Thompson Field Saturday.
The Cowboys will enter next week’s Region II Baseball Tournament at Jenks with a 33-22 record.
In the opener Kelvin Rivas pitched a complete game to improve his record to 6-1 on the season. Rivas scattered 6 hits and struck out 8 in going the distance.
At the plate it was Phil Diedrick leading the assault with two home runs. Diedrick put Connors out front with a solo blast over the right field wall in the first and then launched a 3-run homer in the fifth. Diedrick now has five home runs on the season.
In the second game kelvin Banks got the win on the mound for CSC going 8 of the 9 innings. Banks is now 2-0 on the hill. He gave up just four hits and struck out five.
The game was scoreless entering the second inning when Cowboys took the lead for good with 3 runs. Korey Keith opened the frame with a single followed by bases hit from Jiro Morales and Ryan Clarke to load the bases.
Angel Flores drew a walk that sent Keith home for the first run. Jake Barton lifted a sacrifice fly to drive home Morales for a 2-0 CSC advantage, followed by a Diedrick base hit sending Clarke home for a 3-0 Cowboys’ lead.
Connors added a run in the third for a 4-0 Cowboys advantage and put the game away with a four run burst in the fifth for an 8-1 CSC lead
Cowboys hitting attack with led by Flores with three hits, while Diedrick, Victor Claudio, Keith, Morales and Clarke with two hits each.
Cowboys Lose Twice to Arkansas Baptist
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Connors State fell twice to Arkansas Baptist 9-8 and 16-8 in a non-conference baseball doubleheader Thursday.
The loss drops the Cowboys to 31-22. The two clubs will close out the regular season with a doubleheader on Saturday at Biff Thompson Field beginning at 1 p.m.
In the opener the Cowboys trailed 3-1 entering the fifth inning and grabbed a 5-3 lead before the Buffaloes struck for 6 runs in their half of the inning to take a 9-5 advantage.
Connors’ Eli Roundtree singled followed by a Ryan Clarke walk to open the fifth frame. Angel Flores doubled to plate both Roundtree and Clarke to tie the game at 3-3. Jake Barton sent home Flores to give the Cowboys a 4-3 lead. The final run of the inning came across when Phil Diedrick drove home Barton for a 5-3 Connors lead.
Following Arkansas Baptist’s 6-run explosion, Connors scored three runs in the sixth to make it 9-8. Korey Keith doubled to open the inning, and moved to third on a fielders’ choice and scored on Braden Cook’s sacrifice fly. Clarke then singled and Barton followed with a walk before Flores doubled to score both Clarke and Barton for the 9-8 final.
Jordan Morales took the loss for the Cowboys on the mound.
In the nightcap Connors’ Chad Backward started and took the loss and is now 7-3. Cowboys took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Arkansas Baptist held an 8-2 lead before the Cowboys scored 6 runs in the fifth inning to tie the game.
The Buffaloes outscored Connors 8-0 the final two innings of play to get the win. Keith had three base hits in the nightcap for 3 RBIS, and Flores also knocked out 2 hits.
Errors in 9th Doom Cowboys Against NEO
WARNER –Three errors in the ninth inning proved costly for Connors State as Northeastern A&M broke a 6-6 tie to score six runs and capture a 12-7 Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball victory over the Cowboys at Biff Thompson Field Sunday.
The loss drops the Cowboys to 31-20 and 5-11 in league play. Connors will battle Murray State at 6 p.m. Monday at Thompson Field.
Caleb Banks, who came in relief in the fourth inning, trailing 4-0, going 5 2/3 innings to take the loss. Banks gave up a 2-run homer in the sixth that gave NEO a 6-0 advantage.
Connors battled back to tie the game in the 8th inning at 6-6, before Banks gave up a solo homer to give the Norsemen the lead 7-6 in the ninth. After the solo shot, Connors committed three errors which led to five unearned runs in the frame.
Cowboys scored their first run in the sixth when Jake Barton walked and scored on a Korey Keith fielders’ choice in the sixth inning to make it 6-1. In the seventh CSC’s Braden Cook doubled, followed by walks to Ryan Clarke and Angel Flores to load the bases.
Phil Diedrick drove a base hit up the middle to send home Cook and Clarke cutting NEO’s lead to 6-3. Connors came back in the 8th inning to tie the game when Eli Roundtree scored on a Clarke RBI base hit, making it 6-4. Flores was then hit by a pitch to reach base. Then with Clarke at third base, he came home on a wild pitch to make it a 6-5 game. Flores scored for the deadlock on an infield single by Barton.
Chris Tavares led the CSC hitting attack with three hits, with Victor Claudio and Clarke with two hits each.
Cowboys Rally Past Northeastern A&M
Connors State scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to defeat Northeastern A&M 3-2 for an Oklahoma Collegiate Athletic Conference baseball victory Friday night at Biff Thompson Field.
The Cowboys are 30-19 for the year and 4-10 in OCAC play and will travel to Miami Saturday for Game 3 of the four game series. The Norsemen are 28-11 and 7-5 in league play.
Connors tied the game with one out in the ninth when Braden Cook walked, and Ryan Clarke then moved him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Angel Flores ripped a base hit to left field, but Cook wasn’t able to score from second.
Flores’ base hit put Cowboys at third and first base. Jake Barton followed with a single to send Cook home to tie the game at 2-2.
The winning run came home when Phil Diedrick’s one-hop shot bounced off NEO’s shortstop and went into left centerfield, allowing Flores to score the winning run.
Connors jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Clarke singled and then stole second base. Clarke moved to third base on a wild pitch and scored on a Barton sacrifice fly.
The Norsemen took a 2-1 lead in the fifth on Cowboys starter Kelvin Rivas. Rivas was relieved by Kylar Trumbla, who went the rest of the way to get the win. Trumbla allowed just two hits, in four innings, striking out six, walking just one.