Broncbusters Endure Blowout Losses at Seward County
Garden City Community College Baseball team hosted Southeast Community College in a double header on Monday, February 19, 2024 at Williams Stadium in Garden City, Kan. The Busters dropped both games to the Bobcats, game one 4 - 11 and game two 6 - 7. Photo credits; Adam Shrimplin, Shrimplin Photography
Liberal, Kan. – A series that was one-way traffic in 2023 held firm to start 2024.
The Garden City Broncbusters were dealt another pair of losses, falling 13-3 and 17-3 against the Seward County Saints from Brent Gould Field.
Garden City’s (5-32, 1-17 KJCCC) 2023 squad had no answers for Seward’s explosive lineup, giving up 103 runs in their four-game series last year. All four games ended in run-rule victories.
Seward County (20-21, 8-10 KJCCC), a team renowned for doubles, brought a strong two-strike plate approach on Thursday. Four of their RBI in game one came with two strikes, including a pair of full-count bases-loaded walks.
Cameron Cartwright and Kotaro Wakui were both exceptional, combining for 12 RBI in the two games.
Games three and four at Williams Stadium are scheduled for 1:00 and 3:30 on Saturday afternoon.
Game 1: Seward County, 13-3 (5)
Just as quickly as Garden City pulled back into the game, Seward County put it out of sight.
The Saints run-ruled the Broncbusters with 11 runs over the final two innings. The loss marked the fifth straight run rule by SCCC over GCCC.
The game never felt over, until it was. The Broncbusters would tie the game in the fourth inning, hanging their lone crooked number.
First baseman Wyatt Anderson knocked a two-run single into left field, cancelling out an early Saints home run to level the game.
Anderson has now driven in six RBI in his last four appearances*.
The Broncbusters would respond to a four-run SCCC frame in quick fashion. Caleb Metzen launched his second career home run to left field, pulling the Seward lead to 6-3.
Metzen has now recorded seven extra-base hits this season, five of which are in Jayhawk Conference play.
Seward got to Garden City’s bullpen in the fifth, closing the game with a seven-run, eight-hit inning.
Mason Hagel-Pitt started and ended the inning strong, hitting a solo home run to lead off the frame, and finishing the game with an RBI double to right field.
Hagel-Pitt doubled home Wakui, who enjoyed the best game of his career. The freshman designated hitter opened the scoring in the first with a two-run homer, added a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and doubled home another in the fifth.
Wakui finished 2-for-3 with a career-best 5 RBI in the win.
Saints’ starter Tyler Wilcox received his fourth win of the season, and Broncbusters’ starter Andrew Bowman took the defeat.
Game 2: Seward County, 17-3 (7)
The Broncbusters yet again found a way to respond to early trouble, but couldn’t keep it rolling into the later stages.
Facing an early 3-0 lead, GCCC started strong in the second. Dawson Stutz nailed a leadoff triple off the right-center field, kickstarting a strong second inning.
Back-to-back walks would load the bases, before Brittain Brewer would plate one on a fielder’s choice, hedging the 3-1.
Brewer’s RBI was the ninth of his freshman season.
Yet again, Metzen would provide the pop, tying the game with a two-run double to left field.
Metzen finished Thursday’s set with three hits and four RBI in just five at-bats.
The bats weren’t able to generate much afterwards, with Seward scoring the game’s final 14 runs.
Seward hung up an immediate five-spot in the following half-inning. Cameron Cartwright and Mason Hagel-Pitt both launched home runs to right field, pushing Harris Robinson out of the game.
Robinson was charged with the loss, and Aldo Ostos took home the win for SCCC.
Seward tacked on two runs in the third, four runs in the fourth, and three runs in the third.
