By By Scott Cooper – Sports Reporter
The Jefferson Davis Warhawks' recent success indicates they are beginning to settle into a comfortable groove.
With a split and sweep in two weekend twin bills, the Warhawks have registered six wins in their last seven outings while improving to 8-13 on the season.
Warhawks 2, St. Charles CC 1
In the opener of a March 14 double-header against St. Charles, Missouri Community College played in Panama City, Fla., the Warhawks rode an outstanding performance from starting pitcher Ben Glass to secure a 2-1 win.
The first three innings were played to a scoreless tie, but then John Huval blasted a solo home run in the fourth, that put the Warhawks out front, 1-0.
While Glass continued to handcuff the St. Charles' batters, the JDCC offense produced another run in the sixth inning that proved to be the difference in the game. Leon Brasington smashed a double to get the rally started before moving to third on a wild pitch. Brasington then scored on a Steven Cadenhead fielder's choice as the Warhawks added an insurance run to their lead.
In the seventh inning, St. Charles got on the scoreboard with a lone run, but Glass came through in the clutch to shut the door on the rally and complete the 2-1 JDCC victory.
While earning the win, Glass allowed one run on three hits and recorded two strikeouts.
Offensive leaders for the Warhawks were John Huval, 1-for-3 with a home run and RBI and Leon Brasington, 2-for-3.
St. Charles CC 12, Warhawks 7
The nightcap saw the Warhawks build a substantial lead early before St. Charles got untracked in a big way offensively on their way to a high-scoring victory.
Steven Cadenhead's two-RBI double in the first inning was the big hit that propelled the Warhawks to a 4-0 advantage at the end of one inning.
St. Charles warmed-up the bats with a five-run offensive explosion in the second inning, and then moved five more base runners home in the fourth to pad the lead to 10-4.
The Warhawks managed a run in the fifth that cut the deficit to 10-5 before St. Charles answered with two in their half of the fifth that escalated the lead to 12-5.
Although JDCC added a couple of runs in the seventh, it was a case of too little, too late as St.Charles exited with a 12-7 win that gave them a split.
Leaders at the plate for JDCC were Leon Brasington, 3-for-3; Steven Cadenhead, 2-for-4 with three RBIs and Rob Mosley, 2-for-4.
Warhawks 4, Hibbing CC 2
Hibbing Community College traveled from Minnesota for a March 15 twin bill against JDCC and drew first blood in the opener before the Warhawks got untracked and gained control of the game.
After a scoreless first two innings, Hibbing moved a runner across home plate to assume a 1-0 lead.
The Warhawks then mounted a fourth-inning rally that gave them a lead they would maintain to the end. Steven Walls got things off to a good start with a single, and then Bo Keahey reached on an error. Dustin Holtzclaw followed with a single that allowed Walls to move home before another RBI-single by Eli Himes allowed Keahey to score and gave JDCC a 2-1 lead.
Hibbing produced a run in the top half of the sixth inning that knotted the score at 2-2, but the Warhawks responded in their half of the sixth.
In a virtual repeat of the fourth-inning rally, RBI hits by Holtzclaw and Himes were responsible for two runs that placed the Warhawks on top, 4-2.
JDCC starting pitcher Rapheal Kyles put the wraps on the win by shutting-down the Hibbing offense in the seventh.
In notching the win, Kyles tossed a complete game while allowing two runs and striking-out nine.
Paving the way for the JDCC offense were Dustin Holtzclaw, 3-for-3 with two RBIs; Steven Walls, 2-for-3; Josh Hasty, 2-for-3 and Eli Himes, 2-for-3.
Warhawks 15, Hibbing CC 0
In what can be described as the epitome of a dominating victory, the Warhawks built a 5-0 lead at the end of two innings of the nightcap before cruising to an easy 15-0 win.
In the bottom of the first, Josh Hasty reached on a single before Leon Brasington's home run allowed JDCC to assume a 2-0 lead.
Three more runs in the second inning put the Warhawks in a commanding position. Brasington, Steven Cadenhead and Dustin Holtzclaw each produced RBI singles that accounted for three runs and placed JDCC comfortably ahead, 5-0.
While starting pitcher Matt Barton was dominating the Hibbing batters, the Warhawks added 10 more runs in the fourth inning that ended the scoring in a 15-0 JDCC victory.
Barton allowed only three hits and struck-out two while earning the win.
Leaders at the plate for the Warhawks were Josh Hasty, 3-for-3 with one RBI; Leon Brasington, 2-for-3 with five RBIs; Steven Cadenhead, 2-for-3 with three RBIs; Dustin Holtzclaw, 2-for-3 with one RBI; John Huval, 2-for-3 and Eli Himes, 2-for-3.