Buster Baseball Takes Weekend Series 3-1 Over Hutchinson at Williams Field

Garden City, KS – Williams Stadium was the site for an eventful weekend of baseball and staying ahead of the weather to a tee. Garden City was to host HCC on Saturday and Sunday but the games were rescheduled to stay ahead of a late winter blast forecast for Sunday. Game 4 ended in a Buster victory avoiding the split with Hutchinson and avoiding the winter weather that was on its way. However prior to game 4 the Busters were in a bit of a storm as Hutchinson got it’s only win on a decisive 16-3 margin. Friday was big for the Busters as they came from behind to win in game 1 and taking control of game 2 going up 2-0 in the 4 game series.

In game 1 HCC got off to a quick start as Quentin Crandle hit a grand slam to go up 4-0 and then in the third inning Hutchinson got on the board off Kunzmans’ single scoring Suttliffe and Crandle. Garden City trailed 6-0 at that point before getting on the board in the bottom half inning with a 2 out rally that would be the Busters signature in the series. Garden City’s Alex Buechler is walked and then Rocky Desantis was hit by pitch. With Buechler and Desantis on, Nolan Barrientos singles and Buechler scores on an error by the left fielder. Kevin Czarnecki’s RBI single scores Nolan Barrientos for the third run of the inning, Hutchinson leading 6-3.

Garden City went back to work in the bottom of the fifth as Barrientos was walked and Tyler Alitz’z RBI home run pulled GCCC to within 1. Tyler Nesby singled and then advanced to 3rd base on two wild pitches. Nesby scored on a ground out by Mason Fischer and the score was tied at 6. In the 6th, Garden City started the come from behind win with a Zach Barton single and stealing second. He was then replaced by Marcus Brown. Despite Buechlers double he was unable to drive in Brown so Brown remained on third. Rocky Desantis came to the plate and struck out for the first out and then Barrientos was intentionally walked to load the bases. Kevin Czarnecki came to the plate and reached first on a fielders choice forcing Brown out at home. With bases loaded Hutchinson allowed Buechler and Barrientos to score on two wild pitches.

Colton Kibler replaced Josh Thomas on the hill in the 7th as Kibler struck out 2 batters before Jacob Ek hits a line drive to Shortstop Tyler Alitz to end the game. GCCC 8, HCC 6.

Game 2 was a bit of a reversal as both teams scored a run in the second inning. HCC got on the board after Schroer singled and advanced to 3rd with a walk and fielder’s choice. Schroer scored on throw and the 1/2 inning ended with pickoff at first base. Garden City’s Rocky Desantis was hit by pitch to get him on and advanced to second on a steal and to third on a SAC bunt by Keivin Czarnecki and scoring on Tyler Alitz ground out to third. Hutchinson scored again in the top of the third but Garden City lit up the bottom of the third with 6 runs on two outs. Prior to that an Alex Buechler RBI single scored Zach Barton and then the two out scoring barrage began. Kevin Czarnecki and Tyler Alitz RBI singles scored Desantis and Barrientos. Tyler Nesby was walked and Mason Fischer doubled scoring Czarnecki, Alitz and Nesby to end the scoring; 8-1 GCCC.

HCC picked up 3 runs in the top of the fifth making the score 7-5 while the Busters picked up 1 run apiece in the 6th and 7th innings making the score 10-5 and the Blue Dragons finished the scoring with 1 run in the top of the ninth to end the game 10-6 GCCC. Game 3 held on Saturday saw the Blue Dragons bats get hot. HCC scored 11 runs in the first 3 innings scoring 2, 5 and 4 runs. Garden City got on the board in the bottom of the fourth with 3 runs but HCC came back and picked up 5 more runs as they took the wind out of GC’s sails ending the game in 5 at 16-3.

Chris Finnegan’s Busters are probably best after loss as they came out in game 4 on fire scoring 6 runs in the bottom of third taking an 8-1 lead. With the signature 2 out rally GC was sparked by 3 consecutive doubles by Desantis, Barrientos and Czarnecki including Barrientos and Czarnecki’s RBI doubles. RBI singles by Nesby, Ragias and Fischer ended the Busters scoring for the day with 8 runs on 11 hits. HCC would score 2 runs in the 6th and 7th making the score 8-5. Colton Kibler closed the game with 2K’s and gave up 1 run ending the game at 8-6. HCC finished the day with 6 runs on 8 hits and was plagued with 4 errors. Garden City will travel to Otero on Tuesday and is at home to Lamar on Wednesday. The Busters are 7-10 overall and 3-1 in Jayhawk West play.