The Dodge City Community College Conquistador baseball season opened with an offensive explosion Tuesday, as the Conqs let loose for an 11-0 win in game one of a doubleheader against the McCook CC Indians.
The Dodge City offense was more consistent than powerful through the first five innings of the ball game, as the Conqs built a 4-0 lead with single runs in the first, second, third and fifth. But the sixth inning saw the Conqs break out for seven runs on a Javier Alvarado grand slam and a Scott Absher two-run shot, both to right-center field.
Third baseman Mike Schnedar started the scoring in the sixth with an RBI single off reliever Clay Apodaca, who gave up the seven earned runs in just one third of an inning of work.
"I'm thrilled with how we opened," said DCCC coach Phil Stephenson. "Scott Absher — that's as well as he's swung the bat since he's been here. On a day like today, we did a good job of staying inside the ball and taking advantage of the elements."
The sophomore went 3-for-4 in game one with two dingers and three RBIs. Most of the Conqs' hits went to center or right field, as a wind that reached as much as 40 miles per hour blew across Cavalier field from left field to right. But Dodge also got a complete game two-hit shutout from starting pitcher Stephen Leddy.
Leddy threw just 79 pitches in his seven innings of work, striking out two, walking two and hitting three batters. With the wind, the right-hander had to start his curve ball almost behind right-handed hitters, who were more willing to lean into the pitch at times than try to get a hit.
"You've just got to work with the wind," Leddy said. "I was lucky enough that my ball was tailing enough to where guys couldn't square up on it. Seven innings is a blessing to get, but we were able to keep the pitch count low, and it worked out for me."
Stephenson said earlier he would be happy to get five innings from his starters at the beginning of the season.
Alvarado went 1-for-1 in game one with four RBIs after getting hit twice by McCook starter Andre O'Connor. Lead-off man Cody Lunsford and Schnedar both went 2-for-4, while designated hitter Rudy Krist went 2-for-3 with an RBI as well.
Check Thursday's edition of the Daily Globe for results from game two of the season-opening doubleheader.
